Grifone Meeting, first entries

Leonardo Fabbri e Zane Weir in shot put competition

Leonardo Fabbri (foto FIDAL/COLOMBO)

Italian shot-putters Leonardo Fabbri and Zane Weir will be among the highlights of the “Grifone Meeting – Città di Asti”, scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd.

Fabbri (Bagno a Ripoli, Florence, 1997), 22,37m PB, silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and bronze medal at the 2024 WC Indoor in Glasgow, is the latest in a lineage of Tuscan throwers that had brought Alessandro Andrei to Olympic victory in Los Angeles 1984. .

Weir (Durban, South Africa, 1995), 22,44m PB, was granted Italian citizenship thanks to his Trieste-born grandfather Mario, and made his debut in the Italian colors at the Tokyo Olympics (5th with 21,41). European Indoor Champion in Istanbul 2022 and 4th at the Glasgow 2024 Indoor World Championships ..

Former Italian thrower Paolo Del Soglio coaches both athletes. Weir and Fabbri finished the 2023 season at the top two positions in the European rankings, and are among Italy’s most promising hopes for the Rome European Championships and the Paris Olympics. Joining them in Asti will be the 24-year-old South African Kyle Blignaut, PB 21.21m, gold medal at the World U20 Championships in Tampere 2018.

Grifone Meeting, a stage of the Challenger Continental Tour, is being held in Asti for the first time after debuts in Castiglione della Pescaia and Grosseto. The May 23rd date occurs two weeks before the European Championships in Rome (June 7-12), and just 3 days before the deadline for achieving qualification standards. Around 160 international-level athletes are expected to participate in Asti.

Around 160 international-level athletes are expected to participate in Asti. Scheduled events and admission standards. Scheduled events and admission standards. Men. 100m: 10”30; 400m: 47”00; 800m: 1’47”00; 1500m: 3’38”00; LJ: 7.80m; PW: 5.30; SP: 19.00m. Women: 800m: 2’03”00; 5000m: 15’30”00; 100hs: 13”15; HJ: 1.80m; PW: 4.30m; TJ: 13.40. Women: 800m: 2’03”00; 5000m: 15’30”00; 100hs: 13”15; HJ: 1.80m; PW: 4.30m; TJ: 13.40.